Universal rolling mill



Oct. 29, 1935. H. KoPPEL UNIVERSAL ROLLING MILL 1 v w 2 t may 3 u F I [nu-0 21 for 0&29, .1935. R; H.. KQPPEL 2,019,081

UNIVERSAL ROLLING MILL Filed Oct. 27, 1932 2; Sheets-Sheet 2i Patented Get. 29, 19 35 UNITED STATES PATENT oFncE Application October 27, 1932, SerialNo. 639,914 In Germany October 2'7, 1931 '1 Claims.

My invention relates to universal rolling mills and it is an object of my invvention to provide an improved mill of this type.

To this end, in combination with rotary rolldriving members which are arranged at equal radial distances about the axis of the mill, I provide a rotl shaft with a roll on it per rotary driving member. The roll shafts are operatively connected to the corresponding members and mounted to rock about the axes of the members and the rolls on the individual shafts make up together a pass in the axis of the mill.

Universal rolling mills as designed heretofore possess many and complicated transmitting members which increase their initial cost and deteriorate their efficiency. In particular, if such mills, like the preferred embodiment of my invention, are equipped with a central drive, the central driving member has radial teeth and in terferes with the rocking movement of the individual roll shafts. Another drawback is that it is diflicult to assemble and to disassemble the transmitting members, and it may happen that their gears do not mesh properly. The build-a ing-in and removal of the rolls is also diflicult. Each pass requires special housings which further increases the initial cost of such rolling mills.

These drawbacks are eliminated according to my invention. In a preferred embodiment of my invention which, as mentioned, has a central drive, the roll shafts are mounted in casings and the casings are mounted to rock about shafts extending in parallel to the axis of the mill. Preferably, the central driving member is a spur gear which meshes with spur gears on each of the parallel shafts. The rotation of the spur gear at the centre which may be actuated by any suitable means, is thus transmited to the roll shafts by mechanism such as worm gearing whose'en- :gaglng relation is not influenced by the. rocking movement of the roll shafts.

In my novel mill, the several parts are readily accessible. 'The adjusting of the rolls is particularly simple and may be effected without removing parts of the transmitting mechanism and without interfering with the meshing of gears. The casings in which the individual roll shafts are housed, are equipped with means for securing them in a definite position. If it is desired to adjust the rolls it is only necessary to slightly unfasten the securing means and to rock the casings through a few degrees whereupon they are secured in the new position. If adjustability of the rolls is not a desideratum, the roll shafts may be arranged rigidly in the casing.

The possibility of adjusting the angular position of the roll-shaft casings permits using rolls of widely different diameters in order to attain 5 the desired rolling velocity. This is very important because otherwise the mills do not 1'e-. quire alteration, and in particular may be designed for the same ratio of transmission gearing for various diameters of rolls. On the other 1 hand, it is not desirable thatthe diameters of the rolls to be used in a given mill should vary very considerably. In rolling-mill plants having many units it is preferred to subdivide the plant into groups each of which is operated at 15 a given velocity while the units in the group are operated at the same velocity. For instance, if three groups are provided, the first group is operated at the lowest, the secondgroup at a medium, and the third group at the highest velocity, 20 for which purpose suitable transmitting means may be provided.

If exchangeable rolls of different diameters are used, it is obvious that the condition that the central plane of the rolls should include the axis '25 of the mill (or the centre of the blank), is fulfilled in one angular position of the roll-driving shaft only. It is another object of my invention to eliminate this difficulty. To this end, I mount the roll shafts to' be shifted in their respective 30 casings so that the central planes of the rolls may be adjusted for intersection in the axis of the mill in any angular position of their casings.

It is still another object ofmy invention to shift the roll shafts automatically into the posi- 35 tic-n in which their central planes intersect in the axis of the mill so that itis not necessary to provide for the axial shifting of the shafts when rocking their casings into the desired angle. To this end I provide means such as a cam and 40 a camway for shifting the shafts as the casings are rocked.

In the accompanying drawings, a rolling mill having four rolls is illustrated more or less diagrammatically, it being' understood that I am not limited to any particular number of rolls.

In the drawings v Fig. 1 is an elevation of the mill, with the front portion of its divided housing-removed,

Fig. 2 is a section on the line 11-11 in Fig. 1,

Fig. 3 is a detail showing one of the casing rocked away from the axis of the mill,

Fig. 4 is a partial section along the axis of one of the roll-driving members, showing a modified drive for the roll shaft, I

Fig. 5 is a section on the line V--V in Fig. 1, drawn to a larger scale,

Fig. 6 is an elevation of a casing for a roll shaft, partly in axial section,

Fig. 7 is an elevation of one of the lugs on the housing by which the casings are secured in position,

Fig. 8 is a section on the line VIII-VIII in Fig. 7,

Fig. 9 is an elevation of the inner end of the casing viewed in the direction of arrow IX-IX in Fig. 6, and a Fig. 10 is a diagram of the plant referred to.

Referring now to the drawings, and first to Figs. 1 and 2, I is the housing ofthe mill which, as shown in Fig. 2, is divided along the central transverse plane of the mill, 42 and 43 are a pair of tubular members extending inwardly from the two end walls of the housing I to form a guide for the blank b, Fig. 6, here shown as a tube, and 2 is the central driving member or principal spur gear whose boss is mounted to rotate on the tubular members 42, 43. 3 are the four roll-driving members which are arranged at equal radial distances about the axis of the mill and are here shown as spur gears pitched at 90 degs. and meshing with the principal spur gear 2. Rotationis imparted to the principal spur gear 2 through a spur gear, I Ii on a shaft I I which may be actuated by a motor, not shown. 4 are the shafts of the roll-driving'members or spur gears 3, and 5 is a worm on each shaft 4.

8 are the casings for the roll shafts I, only one of the casings being shown in Fig. 1, I5 are worm gears on the outer ends of the roll shafts I which mesh with the worms ion the corresponding rolldriving shafts 4, and 9 are the rolls on the inner ends of the shafts I.

It will be understood that the roll shafts I, with their casings 8, are mounted to rock about the axes of the corresponding roll-driving shafts 4, as will appear from a comparison of Figs. 1 and 3, and that the worm gearings remain in mesh notwithstanding the rocking movement of the casings and shafts. A worm gearing is not the only mechanism which fulfills this condition, and another suitable mechanism is shown in Fig. 4 where 44 is a bracket in which the shaft I is mounted to rotate. The boss 45 of the bracket turns freely on the corresponding shaft 4. 25 is a bevel pinion on the shaft 4, and 26 is a bevel pinion on the roll shaft I which meshes with the pinion 25. The mesh is not interfered with by turning the bracket 44 about the axis of the shaft 4.

A central drive is preferred but not indispens able. For instance, the principal spur gear 2 might be dispensed with, the spur gears 3 might be designed as sprockets, a chain placed on them and actuated by any suitable means. Or one of the spur gears 3 might be driven and connected to the others by bevel gears and shafts. Or the principal spur gear might be replaced by an annular member, with inner teeth for meshing with the spur gears 3, and outer teeth for driving the annulus from a pinion or the like. Or intermediate wheels might be provided between the sprockets, and one of the intermediate wheels be driven for rotating the sprockets and intermediate wheels. All these, and many other, modifications which might be made-without departing from the spirit of my invention, have not been illustrated.

The means for securing the casings 3 on the housing I will now be described. I2 and I3 are screw bolts which are anchored on the housing I. The bolts are arranged .on opposite sides of the casings, the bolts I2 being nearer the outer, and the bolts I3 being nearer the inner ends of the casings. I4 are ribs on the casings, with arcuate notches I5 for the reception of the bolts I2, and I2 are nuts on the bolts. I6 are lugs on the housing I, as best seen in Figs. 5, '7 and 8, with arcuate T slots I8 for the reception of the bolts I3. I! is a nut at the inner end of the bolt I3 which bears on the shoulder of the T slot. I8 is an eye on the corresponding casing 3 whose inside diameter is larger than the outside diameter of bolt I3. Mounted on the bolt I3 and within a wider portion of the eye, is a sleeve IS with two diametrally opp site arms 20. The arms extend through slots 2| in the wider portion and are equipped with nuts 22 on their threaded outer ends. 23 is a washer on the upper open end of the wider eye portion, and 24 is a nut on the outer end of bolt I3.

When it is desired to adjust the rolls 9, a blank of corresponding size is inserted in the pass and the casings 8 with the roll shafts I are rocked about the shafts 4 until the rolls bear on the blank. The bolts I3 move with the casings and are now set for the first or rough adjustment. The line adjustment is efiected by the nuts 22 on the two arms 20, and the nuts 24 are now set. At the same time, the bolts I2 are set so that the two bolts I2, I3 hold each casing 8 in the desired position. Any number of auxiliary belts, with nuts I 2, may be provided, with slotted ribs I4 on the casing 3 for the auxiliary bolts to engage in.

It is obvious that the engagement of the worm gearings 5, 8 is by no means interfered with by rocking the casings 8 about the axes of the corresponding shafts 4. Wear of the rolls 9 is readily made up for by rocking the casings and securing them by bolts I2, I3 in the manner described. When it is desired to exchange a roll 9, the corresponding casing 8 is detached from the housing I, or the casing is rocked so far that the roll can be removed from its shaft 1 without interference on the part of the other rolls, as shown in Fig. 3.

Sets of rolls 3 and casings 8 may be arranged on opposite sides of the housing I, as indicated in Fig. 2. The roll shafts I may be staggered in the two sets, as shown for one of the shafts in the lower portion of Fig. 1.

As mentioned, the mill, or its two sets, may be equipped with any number of rolls. If an even number of rolls is provided as illustrated, the rolls are arranged in pairs at two diametrally opposite rolls each. The rolls of each pair are disposed at opposite sides of a central plane of the mill to which they are parallel. The two shafts 1 in each pair are invariably parallel for any distance at which they are pitched.

As mentioned, it is desirable that the central planes of rolls 3 should intersect in the axis of the mill. or of the blank b, Fig. 6. This condition is fulfilled for the position of the casing 8 illustrated, with the large rolls 3 but it could not be fulfilled, for the same effective length of the "shaft 1, for the small rolls shown in dot-anddash lines. Means are provided for increasing the effective length of the shaft so that the central planes of the smaller rolls will also inter-v sect in the axis of the mill. 2! is a bearing sleeve which is mounted to slide in the inner end portion of the casing 8, and receives the shaft I. 28 is a tongue projecting from the sleeve 21 through the wall of the casing 8 and extending into a cam slot 23 at'the side of the slot It in the corresponding lug I8. The cam slot 23 is curved in such manner that the sleeve 21, and the shaft 1 with it, is displaced so that for any angular position of the casing 3, i. e. for any diameter of the roll 3, the central plane of the roll intersects the axis of the mill. Referring to Fig. 6 of the drawings, it will be seen that there is a bushing 4| interposed between the sleeve 21 and the shaft 1 at the right hand end thereof and shoulders 42 and 43 are provided on the shaft at each end of the bushing. It follows, if the sleeve is moved axially, the shaft will be moved with it, the worm wheel 6 being splined on the shaft 1. This automatic adjusting means is particularly useful if the rolling velocity is varied by varying the diameter of the rolls 9.

Referring to Fig. 10, the plant is subdivided into three groups of rolling-mill units 30. The first group has four, and each of the other groups has two units. 3| is a motor, and 32 is the main driving shaft. 35 is the lay shaft of the first, or slowest, group. 33 is a spur gear on the shaft 32 which meshes with a spur gear 34 on the lay shaft 35 of the first group. Similarly, the second and third groups are actuated by gears 33, 31 and ll, 40, and lay shafts 36, 39, at medium and highest speed, respectively. The units in each group are actuated at the same velocity, and any desired variation of the rolling velocity in each group may be effected by exchanging rolls of a. given diameter for rolls of another diameter.

I claim: 1. In a universal rolling mill, a spur gear rotatable about the axis of the mill, pinions meshing with said gear, intermediate shafts arranged in parallel with the axis of the mill and carrying said pinions, roll shafts pivotally mounted on the intermediate shafts so as to be rockable about said intermediate shafts, a roll on each roll shaft, said rolls constituting a pass in the axis of the mill, and a driving connection between said in- I termediate shafts and said roll shafts.

2. In a universal rolling mill, a plurality of rotary roll-driving members, means for rotating said members, intermediate shafts arranged in parallel with the axis of the mill and carrying said roll-driving members, roll shafts pivotally mounted on and angularly disposed with respect to the intermediate shafts, so as to be rockable about said intermediate shafts, a roll on each roll shaft, said rolls constituting a pass in the axis of the mill, and gearing operatively connecting said intermediate shafts to said roll shafts, said intermediate shafts being arranged symmetrically with relation to the axis of the mill, whereby the angular relation between adjacent roll shafts remains equal as the roll shafts are displaced to an equal extent from the axis of the mill. I

3. In a universal rolling mill, rotary roll-driving members, a central drive for said members, intermediate shafts arranged symmetrically with relation to and in parallel with the axis of the mill and carrying said roll-driving members, roll shafts pivotally mounted on the intermediate shafts so as to be rockable about said intermediate shafts, a roll on each roll shaft, said rolls constituting a pass in the axis of the mill, and worm gearing operatively connecting said intermediate shafts to said roll shafts.

4. In a universal rolling mill, rotary roll-driving members, a central drive for said members, intermediate shafts arranged symmetrically with relation to and in parallel with the axis of the mill and carrying said roll-driving members, roll shafts extending transversely of and rock'- able about said intermediate shafts, means for shifting said roll shafts in an axial direction, gearing operatively connecting said intermediate shafts to said roll shafts, and a roll on each roll shaft.

5. In a universal rolling mill, rotary roll-driving members, a central drive for said members,

intermediate shafts arranged symmetrically with relation to and in parallel with the axis of the mill and carrying said roll-driving members, roll shafts extending transversely of and rockable about said intermediate shafts and shiftable in an axial direction, a housing for the mill, a rockable housing for each roll shaft, means for automatically shifting said roll shafts within their housings during the rocking movement of said shaft housings, whereby the central planes of the rolls may intersect the axis of the mill in all angular positions of said shafts, said means including a cam on said shaft housing and a cooperating camway on said mill housing, and gearing operatively connecting said intermediate shafts to said roll shafts.

6. In a universal rolling mill, the combination with a plurality of shafts disposed about and extending substantially parallel to the axis of the mill, of a plurality of roll shafts disposed in a plane substantially perpendicular to the mill axis, gearing connecting each of said roll shafts with one of said first named shafts, means pivotally supporting said roll shafts on said first named shafts for angular adjustment about the axes of the respective first named shafts, and rolls carried by said roll shafts and constituting a pass in the axis of the mill.

7. In, a universal rolling mill, the combination with a plurality of roll shafts disposed about the mill axis in a plane perpendicular to the latter, of rolls carried by said shafts and constituting a pass, of means for rotating said roll shafts, means pivotally supporting each of said roll shafts and rolls on said rotating means for swinging movement in the said plane, whereby said rolls may be adjusted toward and away from the axis of the mill.

RUDOLF HEINRICH KOPPEL. 

